Up to a third of Irish businesses are still not aware that the critical date for the changeover to euro notes and coins is December 31st, 2001, according to a leading business consultant.

Speaking yesterday at a conference on the euro changeover organised by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CPA) and Dublin Chamber of Commerce, Ms Deirdre McDonnell, chairwoman of the CPA working group on the euro and managing director of Objective Business Consulting, said many businesses were frequently confusing the date with the end of the period of dual circulation - the period during which both pounds and euros will be in circulation - on February 9th, 2002.

She described the level of ignorance as "frightening" given the far-reaching impact of the euro on all aspects of Irish life.